England will be without one of their most experienced players for their upcoming international fixtures, with Marlie Packer not travelling with the squad.
The former Red Roses captain will remain at home rather than join her teammates for the three-match tour of North America.
Packer, who has won 119 caps for England, is staying behind as her partner, fellow England international Rosie Galligan, prepares to give birth.
It means England will be without a player who has been a central figure in their success for more than a decade.
Marlie Packer to miss England tour
The experienced back-row forward has been one of the most recognisable faces in women's rugby since making her England debut in 2008.
Known for her relentless work at the breakdown and fierce tackling, Packer has helped England establish themselves as one of the dominant forces in the international game.
The two-time World Cup winner recently swapped Saracens for Harlequins, bringing an end to nine successful years with the London club.
Her absence will give other members of the squad an opportunity to impress as England continue building towards their next major challenges.
For Packer, however, rugby understandably takes a back seat on this occasion.
England confirm further absences
Packer is not the only player missing from John Mitchell's 32-player touring squad.
Delaney Burns, Haidee Head and Sophie McQueen have all been ruled out through injury.
There is better news for Saracens prop Kelsey Clifford, who returns after recovering from a hamstring problem.
Megan Jones will captain England, with Amy Cokayne and Alex Matthews named vice-captains.
The trio of fixtures follows England's September WXV Global Series campaign.
England's upcoming fixtures
- Saturday, October 17: Canada v England – Toronto
- Saturday, October 24: Canada v England – Ottawa
- Friday, October 30: USA v England – New Jersey
The Red Roses will be looking to build momentum as they continue their preparations for another busy international season.
Other Red Roses rugby couples
Packer and Galligan aren't the only high-profile rugby couple connected to the Red Roses. A number of England's biggest names have partners with their own impressive sporting careers, including World Cup winners, Olympians and coaches.
Hannah Botterman & Georgia Evans
England stars Hannah Botterman and Georgia Evans are one of rugby’s best-known couples, with the pair now engaged.
The couple met through rugby and have both represented the Red Roses, sharing the unique experience of playing international rugby while building a life together.
Botterman has established herself as one of the world's leading props, while Evans has also earned England honours. Their engagement marks another milestone in a relationship that has grown alongside their rugby careers.
Claudia MacDonald & Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald
England star Claudia MacDonald and Ireland international Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald have one of the most fascinating relationships in Test rugby.
The pair met through rugby at Exeter Chiefs and married in the summer of 2025, with both continuing their international careers on opposite sides of the Irish Sea.
That created an unusual situation during the 2026 Women's Six Nations when they prepared to face each other at Test level for the first time. MacDonald was representing England while hooker Moloney-MacDonald was lining up for Ireland, meaning married life briefly had to take a back seat to international rivalry.
Hannah Botterman & Georgia Evans
Botterman and Evans announced their engagement at the beginning of July, having previously made their relationship public.
The pair were actually rivals on the international stage at last year’s World Cup, with Botterman part of the England squad that went all the way and lifted the trophy on home soil.
Now the 27-year-old loosehead is finally ready to pull on an England shirt again.
Zoe Aldcroft & Luke Stratford
World Cup-winning captain Zoe Aldcroft married rugby coach Luke Stratford in the summer of 2024 after the pair had been together for several years.
Stratford has built his own career within the game and works as a scrum coach, meaning rugby remains a significant part of life for both of them away from the international stage.
Aldcroft subsequently led England to World Cup glory at Twickenham in 2025, cementing her place among the leading figures in the women's game.
The couple then revealed another major milestone in 2026, announcing that they were expecting their first child. The pregnancy meant Aldcroft was unavailable for England's Six Nations campaign after an extraordinary period that had seen her captain her country to a home World Cup triumph.
Holly Aitchison & Rich Lane
England playmaker Holly Aitchison is dating fellow Bristol Bears player Rich Lane, giving the Red Roses another relationship with strong club-rugby connections.
The pair appeared to make their relationship public on social media, with Aitchison's teammates having some fun in the comments about the couple's apparent "soft launch".
Lane has been a regular performer for Bristol's men's side after initially joining the club from Bedford Blues, while Aitchison has established herself as a key figure for both Bristol and England.
There's particularly good timing for this piece, too. Aitchison is set to win her 50th England cap against Australia this weekend, on the same afternoon that former partner Botterman is poised to make her long-awaited international comeback.
